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Changi Airport launches innovation drive

Singapore Changi Airport is launching a US$50m innovation program designed to encourage start-ups and other companies to develop new airport technology. Working in partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Changi Airport Living Lab Program is set to last five years.

In the past, the airport has pioneered many new and first-in-the-world facilities, but recognizes the need for other solutions as the demands of travelers change. It is hoped that departments from across the facility will be involved, with ground handlers, security providers and cleaning companies among those invited to co-create, test and demonstrate new technology.

Areas that the airport has already placed an emphasis on include automation and robotics, data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT), non-intrusive security technologies and smart infrastructure management. It has held prototype trials for autonomous cleaning robots and taxi queue analytics, where sensors determine the number of people in the line and help to predict wait times.

Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of Changi Airport Group (CAG), said, “Building innovation today is critical to transforming our business and operations for the future. We look forward to partnering established companies and enterprising start-ups to develop cutting-edge technologies for the airport. Through our Living Lab collaborations, I believe that we can add value to our partners in helping them scale up their solutions for real-world applications.”

Dr Beh Swan Gin, EDB chairman, added, “We are pleased to partner Changi Airport Group on this new program, which will see them collaborate with industry players to develop and test next-generation airport solutions. The Living Lab is aligned with EDB’s goals of fostering a vibrant ecosystem of technology providers, driving innovation and creating new businesses from Singapore.”